Winchester Cathedral is one of 445 heritage organisations across the country set to receive a lifesaving financial boost from the government thanks to the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help them through the coronavirus pandemic.
The Cathedral has received £948,000 to support essential staffing costs and overheads until March 2021. This will enable the Cathedral to continue caring for the precious heritage, to keep its doors open every day for visitors and worshippers, and at the same time build its digital capability to support and engage with an ever wider audience.
Local MP Steve Brine met with Vice-Dean of the Cathedral, Reverend Canon Dr Roland Riem to deliver the good news in person.
Steve Brine, MP said “This is a huge amount of money but it is essential we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past.”
“Winchester Cathedral has taken a massive hit from Covid and of course lost the Christmas Market this year so this support package will protect this much loved, and unique, heritage site and help us prepare for a much needed cultural bounceback.”
This vital funding is from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund - funded by Government and administered at arm’s length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Both funds are part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund which is designed to secure the future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues with emergency grants and loans.
The Reverend Canon Dr Roland Riem, Vice-Dean at Winchester Cathedral said:
“We are deeply grateful for this public money, which will help us hugely in these challenging times, as we do our best to maintain and widen public accessibility.”
Winchester Cathedral is one of the most historically significant buildings in Britain. From the time of Alfred the Great until after the Norman Conquest, Winchester was England’s capital and the Cathedral was its royal chapel. The cathedral has re-opened to the public, including its stunning Kings and Scribes exhibition which unlocks the cathedral’s stories and heritage.
Pictured; Steve Brine delivering the good news to Vice Dean Reverend Canon Dr Roland Riem.
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